Gov. Crist vetoes teacher tenure bill

Source: St. Petersburg Times

TALLAHASSEE — After weeks of protest and a deluge of messages, Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday vetoed a bill that would link teacher pay to student test scores and wipe out tenure for new teachers.
His decision, announced in a noon news conference at the Capitol, came as little surprise. Although Crist initially voiced support for Senate Bill 6, he had distanced himself over the past week as protests mounted.

With just a little over two weeks left in the session, many educators and politicians have expressed doubt the Legislature can rewrite the bill and get it passed.
The Florida Senate passed the bill 21-17; it got through the House of Representatives by a 64-55 vote. The bill had strong support among Republican Party leadership, but some in the GOP joined Democrats in opposition.

.....

Crist has been inundated with messages about the bill, receiving more than 109,000. Though about 49,000 were still unread, almost 58,000 of the messages that had been logged were against the bill.

He had frequently said that he wanted to take his time to hear from his "bosses,'' the people of Florida, as he made up his mind.

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article1087675.ece

One redeeming virtue.

Now if he would get rid of the "beard", declare that he is gay,
and turn Democrat he would win ........... :)

Photo credit Miami Herald

After weeks of protest and a deluge of messages, Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday vetoed a bill that would link teacher pay to student test scores and wipe out tenure for new teachers.

Thank GOD!!

The governor delivered a well-articulated argument for the reasons why he vetoed the bill. He said that tens of thousands of Floridians had called his office to ask him to veto it--I was certainly one of those who called and emailed on multiple occasions!

Excellent, Charlie. Excellent.

Looks like we're safe for this year.

But the blowhards Thrasher and Co., under direction of Jeb Bush, vow to attack teachers again next year.


Gotta remember, it's never over with Jeb Bush.

He was elected in a special election to take over State Senator Jim King (R) after he passed away last year.

The campaign was one of the dirtiest I've ever seen.

He bought a condo in St. Augustine only so he could run for the State Senate in this district, however, he kept his house in out of district Clay County...

Thrasher's sponsorship of the teacher pay bill is not his only problem here, and perhaps not his worst problem. During the run up to the House voting on Senate Bill 6 and it going to Governor Crist signing or vetoing it, Thrasher was gently scolded by a local paper and by the St. Johns County School District Superintendent for not asking the Superintendent for input. (Superintendent Joseph Joyner was Florida School Superintendent of the Year and the SJCSD scores highest in the state).

Thrasher's reply? "I didn't know I had to talk to anybody." That was not an expression of ignorance. It was an expression of arrogance. He felt that he knows what's best for education in Florida without any input from his constituents, the voters. He don't need no stinkin' imput from no stinkin' voters.

Well, we don't need not stinkin' ethically challenged carpetbagger as our State Senatorial representative either.

I will remember in November, Mr. Thrasher. And so will all of the teachers here remember in November. And that goes for Dr. Proctor who is the representative in the State House who has an even more exaggerated sense of superiority. His letters replying to concerned constituents are so condesending as to be insulting. A whole class of High School Juniors wrote him letters last year asking him to try to help find funding for schools in the state. His answer was to the effect that these students were so ignorant that they should not be interfering with a State Rep and wasting his time.

Guess what? Those kids were very insulted. They are graduating from high school within two months. All of them will be 18 in time to register to vote before November if they are not already so. I think you can count on them voting for someone other than Bill Proctor. Likewise with some adult voters who got the same sort of treatment from you--Republicans at that.

He can extort votes to his liking from them. I'll bet Jeb thought he had this teacher merit pay vote in the bag, with Thrasher the Basher knocking heads in the Legislature.

He was wrong.


As soon as I saw how hard Jeb Bush pushed Thrasher's candidacy last year for that Senate seat that the late Jim King held, I knew something was in the works. Then, when Thrasher, steered by Jeb Bush, steamrolled his way in as Chairman of RPOF 2 months ago, it confirmed my impressions.


I hope like hell you are right, 1monster, that Thrasher will be defeated in November.


I think we can bet the farm that Thrasher is using his position as Chair of the RPOF and its purse strings to threaten his colleagues to vote Jeb's way or else.


With Thrasher, it's Jeb's way or the highway. Make no mistake about it---Jeb Bush is still running this show.

Quotes from Governor Crist on his veto of SB6:






Stick it in your eye, Jeb Bush, and that goes for your predator drone John Thrasher too.

I am incredibly happy that bill was defeated. It was a win not only for the students, teachers and parents in Florida. It was a win for public education and the teaching profession. It shows that the rhetoric about how teachers are lazy and incompetent and the caricature of unions as greedy defenders of mediocrity can be overcome with facts.

Floridians stood by their teachers and the governor listened. Democracy won.

incongressional.com

:hi:

I like that last line about taking time to hear from his "bosses" the people of Florida. He could be a good one if the neocons would leave him alone. I'd take him over Rubio any day.

Rubio is the typical evil hates poor people and teachers type of Republican. Crist is a Repug too, but at least there is a person inside, not just an automaton for the rich folks and right wing crazies.

have you seen Rubio's ad? Makes me want throw something at the tv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROErHRmTrYw

your sig line really fits..it's a good one

I have to reread it many times a day for continued inspiration.

My daughter is a Jr. in college and wants to be a French teacher. I was so worried about her future! Now, at least for awhile, she and I can breathe easier.

Source: St. Petersburg Times

TALLAHASSEE — After weeks of protest and a deluge of messages, Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday vetoed a bill that would link teacher pay to student test scores and wipe out tenure for new teachers.

"I know in my heart it's the right thing to do,'' Crist said of his veto.

His decision, announced shortly after noon in a Capitol news conference, came as little surprise. Although Crist initially voiced support for the bill, he had distanced himself over the past week as protests mounted.

"I say we must start over,'' the governor said. "This bill has negatively affected the morale of our parents, teachers and students.''

Under the bill, half of a teacher's evaluation would depend on what kind of learning gains their students made. Those evaluations would determine their pay. New teachers would have been hired on annual contracts with no chance of tenure.


Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article1087675.ece

for making us all aware of this topic.

unless you were hoping he would sabotage himself in the Senate race (he is running for Senate is he not?)

not, mine...from a friend:

He's losing so badly to Rubio in the primary polls...but, Meek vs. Rubio vs. Crist polls show Crist on top. Independent run? Not sure about the rules, but he could switch over and win with an I.

And good on all of the people who protested. NOW WILL THE Democrats please get solidly behind public ed. and drive the point home that this bill was hugely flawed?

There is a number of things that factor into the test scores of students. Enviorment being the main factor. It would not be fair to the teachers in inner city schools compared to the richer districts.

::happy dance::

:thumbsup:

There was massive outrage here over it. Seems like he listened.

important accomplishment was to include a paper trail on all voting machines for 2008 election

The thugs were against this, but because of an awful mess in a Tampa area congressional election, (2006) due to no trail, this was made into law. Therefore, with a paper trail, the elction in Florida for 2008 had a much better chance of being fair.

Do you recall who got those electoral votes in 2008?

And man, did that make Republicans apoplectic.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEFDE173FF935A35757C0A9619C8B63

Y'know... I like him fine.

Crist got this one correct.

knr

Well done, Governor Crist!

Source: News 13

Gov. Charlie Crist has vetoed a controversial education bill that would have made it easier to fire Florida teachers and link their pay to student test scores.

Crist’s rejection Thursday of Senate Bill 6 was a slap at his fellow Republicans in the Legislature and former Gov. Jeb Bush, who had pushed the measure.


The bill had generated protests by teachers and parents across the state, and had scant public support. It was considered the most far-reaching legislation of its kind nationally.


Great news! Thanks Gov Crist!



Read more: http://cfnews13.com/Education/EducationHeadlines/2010/4/15/crist_vetoes_teacher_tenure_bill.html

Good move.

This is a case where having a republican governor might be a good thing, if it helps prevent the republican legislature from overriding his veto.

registering as an R for just this primary so I can help vote for him. I know a bunch of folks who are also considering the same. Then I'll change back as soon as it's over.

If Rubio gets the senate I may just have to seal myself into a time capsule. :(

:(

I am currently a registered I. But I may change it to vote the primary. Rubio needs to be stopped - but Crist is trailing by 29.

I'm a registered 'I' as well. It's time to do some damage in the primaries on the 'R' side because this is MY Florida school system they fucked with this time.

THANK YOU, GOV CRIST!

Crist runs as an independent and utterly destroys Rubio's chances for the Senate. Dare we hope the Dem candidate might pull it out of the fire, ala Bill Clinton '92?

The teanuts are a majority of "wanting to vote" people in the GOP primaries, but come general election, Charlie could sway enough to win it, or if Meeks can get it done, surprise us with a win - and I would HOPE after seeing this veto, that Charlie realizes how scary his GOP challenger is, and would like to thwart his win.

It's a brave move, and a well-deserved slap in Jeb Bush's face.

I cannot believe that, for example, a student's home life is not factored in.

Thank you, Governor Crist. This is a courageous decision on his part.

.

Who is running for governor there?

Good for Crist.

The Sniper is letting it fly:






(Hat tip to TPM)


April 15, 2010






(Foundation For Florida's Future link added)